Blotter or pad.



No. 857,462. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

L. S. HO UGHTON; BLOTTER 0R PAD.

APPL IOATION FILED JUNE18, 1906'.

LOUIS S. HOUGHTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

BLOTTER OR PAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed June 18, 1906. ri l N 322,355.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS S. HoUeH'roN, of Baltimore, Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Blotters or Pads, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to blotters, and has for its object to provide a simple, effective and economical article, the edges and corners of which will not turn or curl up; and, further, to invest such blotter with sufli cient rigidity as to make it effective as a hand rest when, for example, writing near the bottom of a pageof a large book.

The tendency of the corners of blotters to curl up has heretofore necessitatedwhen the blotter was used as a desk pad-the provision of more or less expensive means for protecting said corners; and in hand blotters the addition of a stiff paper, celluloid or other backing. Further, in writing near the bottom of the page in a large book, such as a ledger, it is necessary that there should be some support for the writing hand. Heretofore this has required the use of a wooden or other support, introduced between the pages of the book, on which to rest the hand; and not only is more or less time lost in introducing and removing this rest, but the article itself is of appreciable cost. The disadvantages of the edges of the blotters curling up have been obviated, and an economical and effective substitute for said hand-rests provided, by my present invention which consists, briefly stated, in an envelop or slip of blotting material or paper containing a sheet ofstifl' material, such as sheet metal.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, the envelop or slip being formed of two sheets of blotting paper secured together at their edges; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification, illustrating an envelop or slip closed along one transverse edge; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of an envelop or slip formed of a single sheet of material.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 66 are sheets of blotting material, suitably secured together at their longitudinal edges, as by sewing stitches 7, thereby forming an envelop or slip into which may be readily introduced and removed a strip or sheet 8 of any desired mate'- rial, such as sheet metal. Said sheet or strip is preferably of such size as to completely fill the envelop or slip, thereby preventing the edges and corners of the same from curling or turning up. It will be appreciated that instead of forming the envelop or slip of'two sheets of blotting material, a single piece 9 may be used to the same end, by folding or bending it upon itself, as illustrated in Fig. 5. And, further, if desired, the envelop may be closed, not only along its longitudinal edges, but also along its transverse edges, one transverse edge being shown as closed at 10, Fig. 4..

In preparing the sheet or strip for desk blotters, it is, of course, uimecessary that there should be any material under the central portion of the desk pad or blotter, inasmuch as the only function of the rigid member in this case is to prevent the edges and corners of the blotter or pad from curling up. Accordingly, the center of the sheet may be out out, leaving only a hollow square, or other hollow form, according to the desired shape of the blotter or pad and this cut-out portion is used for forming sheets for hand blotters. The sheets for these hand blotters are, as illustrated, continuous and preferably imperforate, inasmuch as one of the most desirable features of my improved device is the use of the blotter as a l1and-rest or support when writing or drawing near the bottom of a page or sheet.

It is obvious that a single sheet or strip will last indefinitely, and that, when the blotter envelop or slip has outlived its usefulness, the sheet or strip may be removed therefrom and slipped into a fresh blotter.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved blotter consisting of a sheath of material having a blotting surface and a flat stiffening element inclosed within and removable from the same.

2. An improved blotter consisting of a ing of blotting material and a. flat stifiening In testimony whereof I have signed this element inclosed within and removable from specification in the presence of two subscribthe same. ing Witnesses.

5.- An improved blotter consisting of a eov- LOUIS S. I-IOUGI-ITON. 5 ering formed of a plurality of sheets of blot- Witnesses:

ting material and a flat stiflening element in- D. W. BRUNDIGE, Jr. closed Within and removable from the same. IRA H. HOUGHTON. 

